By Michael Dylan Welch

Judged on Friday, September 1st by David Berger and Michael Dylan Welch . Judged on Saturday, September 2nd by Terran Campbell and Michael Dylan Welch

Friday submission: 88
Saturday submission: 105
Total submission: 193

Saturday, September 2, 2023

First Place

too bright

for eyes to receive

the hole in the darkness

Nigel Wylie

Second Place

the flute’s song trills

across the water before me—

can the moon hear it?

Barbara Segal

Third Place

a twinge of pain—

my body imperfect as

the waning gibbous

Meghan Sinoff

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order by last name)

an imagined moon

phases unseen still matter

the glow behind trees

Megan Benoy

the face of the moon

language once again

at our foolishness

Kim Buehlman

like falling leaves, koi rise up

to kiss the rippling face

of the autumn moon

Carmen Edwards

the moon rises

late to the party

holiday weekend vacation

James Gibson

breath through bamboo

points to the shining moon—

a branch snaps

Matthew Grohne

I look for the moon

in the darkening eastern sky,

hoping for a glint

Hazel Hahn

moon viewing, they said

but not a sliver of light

only hungry stars

Dan Oestreich

the moon’s light

a night in September

could only be compared to you

Rachel Vaney

life is sweet

feet in grass, moon out

just relax and nap

Andy Weinstein

moon and lanterns glow—

sweet music fills the air tonight

Hello September!

Emerita Wheeling

summer ends

cool breeze at night

the moon greets us

Ellen Wijisman

Friday, September 1, 2023

First Place

this moon, as easy

to view from anywhere else—

and yet here we are

Grace Wallis

Second Place

awake before the dew

moonlight shows me all

but your face

Pat Atadero

Third Place

the sun set—

the bird sings

to remember tonight

Sherry Tang

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order by last name)

the sun has set

do I shiver from the chill

or the shakuhachi?

Joyce Atadero

moon lights pale blue sky

still conifers listening

a flute plays softly

Kathleen Fujino Allison

surrounded by a wall of green

the still pond reflects

moon lantern glow

Valicia Boschek

when I go home,

the moon goes with me

and my shadow follows

Bob Brown

a rabbit above

two lovers in the moonlight

the night is warm

Julia Fox

dragonfly circles

my friend things about butt cheeks

the full moon rises

Maria Kute

crystal moon beams

light my steps

guiding me home

Amber Mersino

what do you know, moon?

the future? the past? right now?

I curl back to sleep

Rebecca Noran

tea ceremony—

small round cake

calls to the moon

Paul Pietromonaco

awaiting my wish

a coin in the pond

shines from above!

Bez Palmer

show me the way home

a lantern in the night sky

my silent lover

John Reese

clouds pass the full moon—

wind blows the leaves off the willow

the water shivers

Johnny Xue

2023 Moon Viewing Haiku Contest Results

By Michael Dylan Welch

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Friday, September 1, 2023